In honor of the New Year, The Stoop offers an encore version of its first podcast ever, a collection of stories about First Times. Ab Logan reminisces about his first kiss. Physician Ethel Weld remembers learning an important lesson about patients and death; and Baltimore City Health Commissioner shares the story of finding her voice.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com

In honor of Hanukkah, we offer three tales of "Jews Loving Christmas." Arthur Magida spins a snow-globe tale of olde New York; Ana Goldseker yearns for a Christmas tree; and Linda Perlstein offers a behind-the-scenes look at life as an Elf.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com

This week on the podcast, we offer "A Little Christmas Chaos" -- because if the holidays go exactly as planned, there are no good stories! Therese Lynch starts us off with a tale about her crazy family, the curse that befell them one Christmas, and the miracle of Wedgie the parakeet. Prescott Gaylord follows with a heartwarming story about a boy and a videocamera (and the war between them). And former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon recalls a "warm and mushy" Christmas Eve.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

What's better than one disaffected young man pretending to be Santa to make the world -- or at least, the mall -- a more wonderful place? Two. This week on the podcast, A Tale of Two Santas, one from Jim Ventosa and one from Sean Hannigan.

You'll never look at the guy in the red suit the same again. Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

This week on the podcast, "A Southern Family Yarn" from writer Dudley Clendinin, in which past, present, and future merge in a dreamy holiday tale. This story was told in 2009; Clendinin died in 2012 from Lou Gehrig's disease.

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This week on the podcast, we laugh at -- er....with -- three Silly Boys with three very different silly tales. Heath Harrison, best Water Boy ever, tastes forbidden honey. Raj Konar plays with fire. And Dave Reichley gives Donald Duck a golden shower.

Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

In honor of Thanksgiving, this week The Stoop goes "Off the Menu," with three stories of unexpected dining adventures. Amy Cohen plays host to family members whose sandwiches weren't so ... fresh. Cynthia Shea shows up to cater ... without some key ingredients. And Manil Suri cooks a fancy feast for his family ... and survives to tell the tale. Learn more at stoopstorytelling.com.

Do we choose our theme song ... or does it choose us? This week on the podcast, Rahne Alexander reveals her secrets about Purple Rain. Steve Haddad and his mother bond over You Can't Always Get What You Want. And Charisse Nichols channels Michael McDonald.

Learn more about the Stoop at StoopStorytelling.com.

This week on the podcast, three very different tales of Ladies in Love. Adriana Lecuona finds love with a fellow "loser." Allison Brown Jackson woos with a secret weapon: scrapbooking. And Sheri Venema tells a true tale of reluctant cougar-dom.

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at www.stoopstorytelling.com.

In honor of Halloween, three true tales that will scare the pants off ya! Kevin Farmer shares a story about a knife with staying power. Sujata Massey gets haunted through and through. And Peter R has a pirate tale that will make you go aaargh!

Learn more about the Stoop Storytelling Series at stoopstorytelling.com.